Growing for Good
Growing for Good connects Washington's small farms to local food banks in wholesale partnership. The program provides community-supported, fully-funded contracts, offering crucial early-season income to local farms and fresh, quality foods to hunger relief organizations.
Participating Farms & Hunger Relief Organizations
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AG Family Farm
Alvarez Farms
Calanes Produce
Cooperativa Tierra y Libertad
Frey Family Farm
Farias Farm
Hayton Farms Berries
Kirsop Farm
Left Foot Farms
Mariposa Farm
Olsen Farms
Present Tense Farm
Regino Farm
Spring Time Farm
Tian Tian Farm
Viva Farms
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Alimentando al Pueblo
Asian Counseling and Referral Services
Ballard Food Bank
Byrd Barr Place
Des Moines Area Food Bank
Edmonds Food Bank
FamilyWorks
Highline Area Food Bank
Hopelink
Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank
Lifelong Health for All
Maltby Food Bank
North Helpline
Jewish Family Services / Polack Food Bank
Rainier Valley Food Bank
Renewal Food Bank
Snohomish Healing Project
University District Food Bank
Vashon Food Bank
West Seattle Food Bank
Westgate Chapel Food Bank
White Center Food Bank
History
NFM began partnering with PCC Community Markets and Harvest Against Hunger in the summer of 2020, during a time when the uncertainty of the pandemic threatened the livelihood of Washington’s small farms and caused demand in local food banks to skyrocket. Growing for Good was initiated with an $80,000 donation from PCC to NFM, secured from PCC shoppers who “rounded up at the register.” In the first year of partnership, Growing for Good included fifteen food banks and fourteen farms across seven counties and was responsible for 28,000 pounds of fresh food. In the second year, 44,000. And in the third year, farms delivered nearly 60,000 pounds of fresh produce. While Growing for Good was intended to be a short-term response to COVID-19’s impacts on food security and the local farm economy, the partnership has successfully expanded and become more efficient in order to meet the need for food security in our region.
Support Growing for Good
Community members can contribute directly to the Growing for Good program. Your donation made through this link will support the purchase of fresh food.
“Having money up front and being able to pay it off in produce throughout the season makes such a difference. It costs us tens of thousands of dollars to get the fields ready before the season starts. Having money to pay our taxes, prune our crops, and buy fertilizer now is huge. It feels good that people are getting fed and farmers are being able to survive and pay their bills.”
– Manny Canales, Canales Produce
Dig Deeper
Read more stories from farmers, food bank managers and the people impacted by Growing for Good.
Growing for Good in the Pess
PCC Community Markets
PCC is Seattle’s largest grocery co-op and is the funder. With a strong member base and relationships through their PCC Food Bank Program, PCC has played an active role in the partnership by communicating to local food banks, amplifying our work, and raising funds.
Harvest Against Hunger
HAH has piloted and honed innovative hunger relief solutions such as the statewide Farm to Food Pantry program. As an implementing partner, HAH is instrumental in providing the tools and knowledge to assist growers and hunger relief organizations in building successful relationships.
Neighborhood Farmers Markets
NFM’s existing relationships with farmers and producers allow us to work directly with them on delivery schedules, product availability, and succeeding in wholesale relationships. We play an active role in